Category: Film & Series
Appeals court sides with judge who blocked deportations under wartime authority
Joel Rose A three-judge panel from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the White House’s push to restart deportations under a rarely used wartime authority. By a vote of 2 to 1, the judges on Wednesday left in place a lower court order that temporarily blocked the Trump administration from quickly deporting alleged…
How a journalist was sent the U.S. war plans. And, challenging the Alien Enemies Act
By Brittney Melton here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. In a significant security breach, a journalist was unintentionally added to a group chat with top U.S. national security officials to discuss plans to bomb the Houthis in Yemen.…
FEMA Disaster Aid Review Could Deter Migrants from Seeking Help in Extreme Weather
FEMA Disaster Aid Review Could Deter Migrants from Seeking Help in Extreme Weather A previously undisclosed FEMA review could block disaster assistance to millions of undocumented people and deter legal immigrants from seeking help in extreme weather By Thomas Frank & E&E News People are seen outside a wildfire shelter at the Pasadena Convention Center…
How Real Is Severance? The Show’s Neurosurgery Consultant Breaks Down Its Science
The Neurosurgeon Who Advised Severance Breaks Down Its Science A neurosurgeon who has acted as a consultant for Severance explains the science behind the show’s brain-altering procedure—and whether it could ever become reality. By Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Naeem Amarsy & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. Today we’re…
How Tariffs Work—And What Economic Studies Show about Their Real Impact
The Science behind Tariffs and How They Work President Donald Trump is threatening steep tariffs on virtually all imports. Here’s what that means and what economics research suggests would be the impact By Meghan Bartels edited by Jeanna Bryner Container port, Shenzhen, China. Confusion over tariffs has largely shaped the first months of President Donald…
Movie Math Reveals the Formula for a Hollywood Blockbuster
Math Reveals the Formula for a Hollywood Blockbuster Most movies follow one of six emotional arcs. Which one sells the most tickets? By Manon Bischoff edited by Daisy Yuhas What was the last movie you saw in theaters? I rarely go to the movies anymore, partly because I prefer TV series—particularly action shows with spies…
Israel strikes multiple sites in southern Lebanon in response to rocket attack
By Kat Lonsdorf TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israeli military said it struck multiple Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, after several rockets were fired from there toward northern Israel Saturday morning. Lebanese health officials said two people had been killed, including a child, and several more were injured. Sirens rang out in the northern Israeli…
‘My Africa’ field notes: Portraits of hope for Africa’s elephants
Editor’s note: On April 20, Conservation International will release its new virtual reality film, “My Africa,” at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, with a world release on April 30. The film tells the story of a young Samburu woman in Kenya whose community is working to save elephants, reknitting an ancient coexistence between…
Frozen Cosmic Sound Bubbles Suggest Dark Energy Is Shockingly Changeable
Shocking Dark Energy Findings Challenge the Standard Model of the Universe A new map of cosmic expansion suggests that dark energy evolves over time, hinting that the universe doesn’t work the way we thought it did By Zack Savitsky edited by Clara Moskowitz DESI’s 3D map of the universe can show how dark energy may…
New ‘baby pictures’ of the cosmos show the universe in its infancy
By Joe Hernandez Sure, they’re not your typical baby pictures. But a global team of researchers says new images published this week show some of the clearest visualizations yet of the universe in its infancy. If our roughly 13 billion-year-old cosmos could be considered middle-aged, the researchers note, these new images captured around its 380,000th…
Canadian actor detained at US border in ‘inhumane conditions’ for nearly two weeks
Entrepreneur and actor Jasmine Mooney, who had a role in an American Pie sequel, says she was arrested at southern border and held in detention over an incomplete work visa A Canadian entrepreneur and actor in the American Pie movie franchise said she was detained for almost two weeks in “inhumane” conditions by US border…
New film drops beat for ‘climate heroes’
To her fans, DJ and music producer Jayda Guy is the Grammy-nominated artist spinning propulsive dance beats at some of the world’s biggest festivals. But in a new documentary, Guy returns to her “nerdy” roots as a marine scientist — bringing viewers on a journey to explore one of nature’s most potent climate allies: blue…
Federal judge blocks Trump effort to ban transgender troops from military service
Elena Moore A federal judge in Washington D.C. has issued a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration over its attempt to ban transgender troops from serving in the U.S. military. Tuesday’s decision by U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes temporarily blocks the Department of Defense from carrying through with a policy directive designed to remove…
Israel launches deadly series of attacks on Gaza
James Hider Israel has launched a wave of deadly attacks against Gaza, a move that appears to have put an end to the fragile ceasefire that came into effect almost two months ago and aimed at ending almost 16 months of war. Palestinian doctors said that at least a dozen people had been killed with…
How a firefighter’s quick action saved his friend’s life
By Autumn Barnes This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else. In 2022, Glenna Osborne’s father, Ronald Osborne, passed away. To prepare for his memorial service, the family went through his belongings. In the…
Evangelina Rodríguez Led an Extraordinary Life as the Dominican Republic’s First Female Doctor
Evangelina Rodríguez Led an Extraordinary Life as the Dominican Republic’s First Female Doctor Born into poverty and abandoned by her parents, Andrea Evangelina Rodríguez Perozo rises from a life selling sweets in the street to become the first female Dominican doctor in 1911 By Laura Gómez, Lorena Galliot, Samia Bouzid & The Lost Women of…
Demon-child movie wows China – and smashes global box office records
Virtually unknown in the west, Ne Zha 2 is the world’s highest-grossing animation at £1.6bn – outdoing Inside Out 2 – just weeks after its release Just a few years ago, the biggest star of the Chinese box office was a brave army commander. Last year it was a woman who rediscovers herself through boxing.…
Robotics Researcher Creates the Real Cosmo from Netflix’s Movie The Electric State
Robotics Researchers Bring The Electric State’s Cosmo to Life A robotics researcher takes on the Russo brothers’ vision from the new movie The Electric State. By Rachel Feltman, Jeffery DelViscio, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, this is Rachel Feltman. If you pay any attention to the world of…
Federal judge blocks Trump’s plan to target ‘alien enemies’ for deportation
Ximena Bustillo In his latest move to clamp down on illegal immigration and immigration more broadly, President Trump has filed a presidential action invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a seldom-used law that gives the president authority to detain or deport nationals of an enemy nation during wartime. It’s only the fourth time in…
‘Sounds like censorship to me.’ O cinema co-founder slams proposed eviction over film
Mandalit del Barco O Cinema South Beach, an independent, non-profit movie theater, has been showing sold-out screenings of the controversial, Oscar-winning film No Other Land. But the Miami Beach’s mayor calls the documentary “anti-semitic” and is now trying to cut off the city’s funding and lease to the cinema, which is operating on city property.…
A new team and a new attitude, Lewis Hamilton cruises into the 2025 Formula 1 season
By Olivia Hicks The Piazza Castello typically hosts a smattering of tourists in the off-season as winter defrosts into spring. Earlier this month, the historic heart of Milan looked a little different as crimson lined the streets running through the city center in northern Italy. The crowd wasn’t a papal audience or political protest, but…
Ancient DNA Shows Stone Age Europeans Voyaged by Sea to Africa
Ancient DNA Shows Stone Age Europeans Voyaged by Sea to Africa Roughly 8,000-year-old remains unearthed from present-day Tunisia held a surprise: European hunter-gatherer ancestry By Ewen Callaway & Nature magazine Stone Age people might have crossed the Mediterranean on wooden canoes, navigating from island to island by sight. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! Thousands…
The NWSL is adopting a tool to protect players from online abuse, commissioner says
By Jeffrey Pierre The National Women’s Soccer League has plans to adopt a tool to monitor and protect players from online abuse, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman told NPR’s All Things Considered. The plans, first reported by NPR, are expected to come during the 2025 season. The NWSL came under scrutiny last November after Orlando Pride…
John Green on His New Nonfiction Book Everything Is Tuberculosis
Author John Green on How Tuberculosis Shaped Our Modern World Novelist John Green talks about his new nonfiction book, Everything is Tuberculosis, and the inequities in treatment for the highly infectious disease. By Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Naeem Amarsy & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. If you’re familiar…
Experts warn that recent school shootings show growth in new radicalization pattern
Odette Yousef Two recent school shootings are highlighting what extremism researchers see as a growing — and poorly understood — trend among young people who embrace mass violence. The attacks, at high schools in Madison, Wis., and Nashville, Tenn., defy categories that law enforcement and researchers have long used to understand radicalization pathways, such as…
Trump signs executive action targeting public service loan program
Jonaki Mehta President Donald Trump has signed an executive action that directs the U.S. Education Department to exclude certain federal student loan borrowers from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The action says “individuals employed by organizations whose activities have a substantial illegal purpose” will no longer be eligible for the program, known as PSLF.…
First Measles Death, Outbreaks of Mysterious Illness in DRC and Microbes in Space
The Latest on Measles in the U.S, a Mystery Illness in the DRC and the Flu Vaccines In this news roundup, we cover outbreak updates, microbes in space and a brain turned to glass. By Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: Happy Monday, listeners! And happy March. For Scientific American’s Science Quickly,…
The Surprisingly Difficult Mathematical Proof That Anime Fans Helped Solve
How Anime Fans Stumbled upon a Mathematical Proof When a fan of a cult anime series wanted to watch its episodes in every possible order, they asked a question that had perplexed combinatorial mathematicians for years By Manon Bischoff edited by Daisy Yuhas Fans of a classic anime series sought to work out how long…
I’m Still Here wins Oscar for best international film, becoming first Brazilian film to do so
Brazil’s official entry beats beleaguered French favourite Emilia Pérez to the podium I’m Still Here has won the Oscar for best international film at the Academy Awards, which are currently taking place in Los Angeles. It is the first Brazilian film to win the award. Directed by Walter Salles and starring Fernanda Torres, I’m Still…
Israel’s culture minister calls a Palestinian-Israeli film’s Oscar a ‘sad moment’
By Daniel Estrin , Itay Stern , Nuha Musleh TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel’s culture minister has called the Oscar win of a joint Palestinian-Israeli documentary “a sad moment for the world of cinema.” Palestinian residents whose community’s struggles are depicted in the film called the award a morale boost. The film No Other Land,…
Why Do Songs Get Stuck in Your Head?
Why You Can’t Get That Song Out of Your Head Some songs get stuck in our head more than others, and scientists have uncovered what makes them so irresistible. By Rachel Feltman, Josh Fischman & Fonda Mwangi Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. You know that feeling when you just can’t…
Trump Firings and Funding Freezes Leave Western States Scrambling to Prepare for Wildfire Season
Western States Scramble to Prepare for Wildfire Season amid Trump Cuts The Trump administration’s moves to slash Forest Service personnel and pause wildfire-related grants have left states to pick up the pieces on prevention and mitigation By Natalie Fertig, Jordan Wolman & E&E News A firefighter stands on top of a fire truck to battle…
5 minerals in Ukraine that may be part of a deal with the U.S.
By Scott Neuman President Trump says Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready to sign a deal with the U.S. to provide valuable minerals in exchange for what Ukraine is hoping will be additional military aid to help defend against Russia’s advances, as the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year. Zelenskyy described it as a…
Christianity declines among U.S. adults while “religiously unaffiliated” grows, study says
Jason DeRose The portion of the U.S. population identifying as Christian has declined significantly over the last two decades, but a massive new Pew Research study finds that trend may be leveling off. The study, which surveyed 37,000 Americans, found that 62% identify as Christian. By comparison, when Pew did a similar study in 2007,…
What if I’m missing a form? Attorneys answer tax questions from NPR’s audience
By Marielle Segarra , Malaka Gharib For many people, filing taxes to the Internal Revenue Service is a befuddling process. There’s a lot of jargon. The forms can be confusing to fill out. And there can be financial and legal penalties if you make a mistake. That’s why New York-based tax attorneys Hana Boruchov and…
Rhiannon Giddens is the latest artist to cancel Kennedy Center gig
Elizabeth Blair Folk musician Rhiannon Giddens announced on social media that she has moved her May 11 concert – originally scheduled for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts – to a different venue in Washington, D.C. The show will now take place on the same date at The Anthem, another venue in…
Federal agencies still can’t agree on ‘What did you do last week?’ email
By Shannon Bond , Stephen Fowler , Andrea Hsu , Pien Huang Federal agencies were split on whether employees should comply with Elon Musk’s directive to list five accomplishments in the past week, sowing more confusion as the midnight deadline for responding loomed, according to emails seen by NPR, and as the agency overseeing the request appeared to…
Thousands of children in England accused of witchcraft in past decade
Figures emerge as Kindoki Witch Boy film tells true story of Mardoche Yembi who underwent an exorcism as a child Thousands of children in England have been accused of witchcraft over the past decade, according to new figures that come alongside a film released on Monday. Faith-based abuse is a worldwide phenomenon but experts found…
How one community in Chile is blessed and cursed with lithium
By John Bartlett ATACAMA DESERT, Chile — At the top of a craggy path in Socaire, a hilltop village deep in Chile’s Atacama Desert, a black flag whips in the wind above Jeanette Cruz’s house. The desert sun has bleached it to a dark gray blur, but the defiance it represents remains strong. Above each…
Biological Anthropology Points to Possible Reasons for Hair and Skin Tone Diversity
By Rachel Feltman & Jeffery DelViscio Rachel Feltman: Have you ever really thought about the hair that grows out of your head? I mean, I’m sure you’ve thought about your hair—in terms of which way to get it cut and how to get that one really wonky piece to behave itself—but have you ever considered…
Leighton Meester Joins Nobody Wants This With Husband Adam Brody
Leighton Meester is set to act alongside husband Adam Brody once again in a guest role on his romantic comedy series Nobody Wants This, Netflix announced Feb. 20. Nobody will want to miss Leighton Meester’s onscreen reunion with husband Adam Brody. The Gossip Girl alum is set to appear in the upcoming second season of…
In Indonesia, villagers find innovative ways to adapt to climate change
Climate change is already affecting people around the world — so adapting is crucial. In some places, at least, people are finding innovative ways to adapt, according to new research. A new study shows that using nature to adapt to intense storms and drought can be affective for thriving in a changing climate. In some…
In wind-swept Andes, (sustainable) vicuña wool is good as gold
The vast plains of the Altiplano in southern Bolivia are a seemingly lifeless expanse. With sparse vegetation, desert sands and dry salt flats, it’s difficult to imagine how any creature could survive in an ecosystem like this. Yet in the midst of this landscape, the vicuña — the undomesticated, fluffy cousin of the alpaca, and…
In Galápagos, novel conservation approach finds ‘sweet spot’ between production, protection
Scott Henderson is the vice president of the Sustainable Landscapes and Seascapes program at Conservation International. A visitor to the Galápagos Islands at the turn of the millennium would have found an archipelago booming. The Ecuadorian islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site, were a growing tourist hotspot. But for local communities on the islands, the…
In new film, top scientists urge action to avoid Earth’s ‘tipping point’
Earth is teetering perilously close to a tipping point — a state of environmental collapse beyond which humanity cannot survive. But it’s not too late to bring us back from the edge, says Conservation International’s Chief Scientist Johan Rockström in a new Netflix film. Released today, “Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet” is narrated…
Why Friendships Matter More Than You Think
Love Isn’t Just about Romance. Here’s How Nonromantic Bonds Shape Our Lives Valentine’s Day often focuses on romance, but deep friendships deserve love, too. Here’s why they matter. By Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi & Madison Goldberg [CLIP: Theme music] Rachel Feltman: Happy Valentine’s Day, listeners! For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. For many…
Government Accountability official says fraud does exist, but it’s not widespread
Luke Garrett President Trump and Elon Musk have vowed to uncover and eliminate fraud in the federal government, and the White House has pointed to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report as evidence and justification for their ongoing efforts to take over and dismantle federal agencies. The GAO is an agency under Congress that…
Protests are set to take place on Presidents Day. Here is why
By Chandelis Duster Protests are set to take place in several major cities across the U.S. on Monday, the Presidents Day holiday, according to activists. These demonstrations are being organized by the 50501 Movement, which stands for “50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement.” The protests are a response to what organizers describe as “the anti-democratic…
White Lotus Season 3 Premiere: Where You’ve Seen the Cast Before
With HBO premiering The White Lotus season three on Feb. 16, stars including Jason Isaacs, Leslie Bibb, Aimee Lou Wood and Natasha Rothwell may look familiar. Get ready to do a double take. Because yes, that really is Lucius Malfoy leaving the Wizarding World behind for a stay at The White Lotus. Jason Isaacs—who played…
Tumors Hijack the Nervous System to Fuel Their Own Growth
Tumors Hijack the Nervous System to Fuel Their Own Growth Interrupting signals exchanged between tumors and the nervous system could become a critical pillar of cancer care By Ingrid Wickelgren edited by Gary Stix Brain tumor. Cancer arises as an enemy from within. One of the body’s own cells becomes damaged or corrupted and then…
The Psychology of ‘Shared Silence’ in Couples
The right kind of silence can be golden, revitalizing and strengthening a relationship By Francine Russo & Knowable Magazine Partners enjoy a companionable moment of separate activities. A couple sits together on a sunny park bench. He appears to be studying the passing clouds; she’s absorbed in a novel. Some passersby might think, How sweet.…
HBO Shares Spellbinding Casting Update on Harry Potter TV Series
HBO shared a casting update for its Harry Potter TV series adaptation after rumors began swirling that John Lithgow was in final negotiations to play Dumbledore in the show, set to premiere in 2026. Accio Harry Potter cast details. HBO shared insight into the casting process of its highly anticipated Harry Potter TV adaptation after…
Venezuelan Migrant Sent to Guantánamo Bay Is ‘Not a Criminal,’ Family Pleads
Luis Alberto Castillo arrived in the United States so that he could “give everything to his son,” said his sister. Then, while scrolling on TikTok, she found out he was headed to Guantánamo. Luis Alberto CastilloYajaira Castillo By Julie Turkewitz and Hamed Aleaziz Julie Turkewitz reported from Bogotá, Colombia, and Hamed Aleaziz from Washington. Luis…
Why Private Forecasting Companies Can’t Replace the National Weather Service
Why Private Forecasting Companies Can’t Replace the National Weather Service NOAA and the NWS provide public weather data that private companies cannot recreate By Christine Wiedinmyer, Kari Bowen & The Conversation US A senior hurricane specialist works at the NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. The following essay is reprinted with permission from…
The best (and worst) Super Bowl commercials this year
Eric Deggans In an unsettled time, the most effective commercial messages are all about reassurance, togetherness and entertainment. Your 2025 Super Bowl guide: How to watch, who’s performing at halftime and what’s at stake Nostalgia. Comedy. Celebrities. Patriotism. And poignant humanism. With ad space topping out at $8 million per 30 seconds for time in a…
How Bad Are COVID, Flu and RSV This Winter?
How Bad Are COVID, Flu and RSV This Winter? COVID levels may have peaked but flu is still high; RSV is on the way out By Tanya Lewis edited by Dean Visser If it seems like almost everyone you know is getting sick with influenza or some other virus right now, it’s not your imagination.…
How to Avoid Outrage Fatigue and Tune In without Burning Out
Avoiding Outrage Fatigue while Staying Informed Outrage fatigue can wear us down—but we can take care of ourselves in an onslaught of overwhelming news. By Rachel Feltman, Tanya Lewis, Madison Goldberg & Fonda Mwangi [CLIP: Theme music] Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, this is Rachel Feltman. No matter what you believe, I’m willing…
Mexico authorities order factory cleanup after Guardian toxic waste investigation
Inquiry uncovered health problems in neighborhood near Monterrey-area plant that processes US hazardous waste Mexican environmental regulators say they have discovered 30,000 tons of improperly stored material with “hazardous characteristics” in the yard of a Mexican plant that is recycling toxic waste shipped from the US. The authorities ordered “urgent measures” to get the materials…
River near Buenos Aires turns bright red after suspected industrial dye leak
Residents living near the Sarandí have long complained about pollution in the area A small river in greater Buenos Aires was dyed a deep and worrying shade of red on Thursday after what is thought to have been a leak of dye from a nearby factory. The violent hue of the Sarandí, which runs through…
Now reading: Harrison Ford Is Still Full of Surprises
Harrison Ford is, by all accounts, busier than ever. “I’m acting my ass off!” the Hollywood veteran told John Jurgenson of the Wall Street Journal, in a profile published Wednesday. In two recent hit shows and a new Marvel movie, the 82-year-old actor has embraced parts that have surprised fans and critics. But there’s one…
Trump’s executive actions are getting challenged as ‘arbitrary.’ What does that mean?
By Christina Gatti President Trump has signed a number of executive actions since taking office, taking aim at everything from immigration and the size of the federal workforce to gender politics and the economy. Before the ink had dried, challengers took legal action to block many of these actions from taking effect. Less than three…
Who Discovered the Cause of Down Syndrome?
Who Discovered the Cause of Down Syndrome? It took more than 50 years for Marthe Gautier to set the record straight about her discovery of the genetic cause of Down syndrome By Lorena Galliot, Sophie McNulty & The Lost Women of Science Initiative In the mid-1950s Marthe Gautier, a young French doctor and cytogenetics researcher,…
Inside the NSF’s Effort to Scour Research Grants for Violations of Trump’s Orders
Inside the NSF’s Effort to Scour Research Grants for Violations of Trump’s Orders The U.S. National Science Foundation has unfrozen grant funding, but it continues to scrutinize research projects, sowing turmoil By Dan Garisto, Max Kozlov & Nature magazine The National Science Foundation, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, funds about 25 percent of basic US academic…
Winter storm to move across U.S. but the South will see record high temps
By Chandelis Duster A winter storm will bring snow and icy conditions from the Midwest to the Northeast that will endanger travel, but the South will see record high temperatures this week — reaching into the 80s in some places, according to forecasters. Starting late Wednesday and continuing into Thursday, wintry weather will bring light…
H5N9 in Poultry, Tuberculosis Outbreak in Kansas and RFK, Jr.’s Confirmation Hearings
Tuberculosis Outbreak, Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu Strain and Polar Bear Hair In this week’s roundup, catch up on the spread of bird flu in the U.S., a tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas and lessons from fossilized vomit. By Rachel Feltman & Madison Goldberg [CLIP: “Let There Be Rain,” by Silver Maple] Rachel Feltman: Happy Monday, listeners!…
The moon’s grand canyons were carved in the blink of an eye
Nell Greenfieldboyce The Grand Canyon in Arizona got carved by water over millions of years of slow but steady erosion. Two similarly-sized canyons on the moon got carved by flying rocks in about ten minutes. That’s because these two canyons formed in the wake of an asteroid or comet smashing into the moon, a crash…
Rubio warns of U.S. action if Panama does not curb Chinese influence around the canal
Juliana Kim U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the leaders of Panama on Sunday that the Central American country must take immediate action on curbing China’s influence over the Panama Canal area or the United States will get involved. Rubio is on his first overseas trip as America’s top diplomat. In addition to Panama,…
The Science of Cynicism and the Transformative Psychological Power of Hope
Can Hopeful Skepticism Replace Harmful Cynicism? Giving in to cynicism makes us less trusting, less connected, and even less physically and mentally healthy. By Rachel Feltman & Fonda Mwangi Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, this is Rachel Feltman. No one wants to be a sucker. But do most of us go too far…
AI’s Energy Demands Threaten a Nuclear Waste Nightmare
Opinion AI’s Energy Demands Threaten a Nuclear Waste Nightmare Reviving nuclear power plants to power AI threatens an avalanche of nuclear waste By Michael Riordan edited by Dan Vergano Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Londonderry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania was shutdown following the partial meltdown of its Unit 2 reactor (TMI-2) on March…
Reese Witherspoon Says Actress Ended Friendship Over This Faux Pas
Reese Witherspoon said she’s “not friends” with a certain “serious, proper actress” after mistakenly roasting her at an award show: “She doesn’t talk to me anymore.” Reese Witherspoon has committed a big little blunder. The Oscar winner shared she’s no longer friends with an unnamed actress after mistakenly roasting her at an award show, saying…
Judy Blume’s Forever… TV Series Will Pull at Your Heart Strings
Netflix reimagined Judy Blume’s popular 1975 novel Forever… for its upcoming drama of the same name. See the show’s first trailer. A Judy Blume classic has found a forever home on Netflix. Two years after Netflix announced they’re reimagining the author’s 1975 novel, Forever… into a new romance drama series, the streaming platform released its first…
2025 Missions to the Sun Seek to Study Space Weather and Shape of the Heliosphere
Why 2025 is an Exciting Year in Heliophysics From space weather to science missions, there’s a lot to be excited about in heliophysics this year. By Rachel Feltman, Meghan Bartels, Fonda Mwangi & Jeffery DelViscio Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. Life as we know it couldn’t exist without the sun,…
Pristine Ancient Forest ‘Frozen in Time’ Discovered in Rocky Mountains
Pristine Ancient Forest Found Frozen in Time in Rocky Mountains A melting ice patch in the Rocky Mountains uncovered an ancient forest, and these trees have stories to tell about dynamic landscapes and climate change By K.R. Callaway & LiveScience Long-frozen whitebark pines emerge from a melting ice patch in the Yellowstone region. Join Our…
Trump signs executive order taking aim at DEI programs in the military
By Ayana Archie President Trump signed an executive order Monday ending diversity programs in the nation’s military. The directive was among a series of executive orders the White House released Monday night that sought to reshape the country’s armed forces. Trump also signed executive orders tasking Pentagon officials with reviewing its policy on transgender troops…
Chiefs to face Eagles at the Super Bowl for the second time in three years
Juliana Kim Just two years after the Kansas City Chiefs edged out the Philadelphia Eagles in a thrilling Super Bowl, these two football powerhouses will face off once again on the championship stage. The Chiefs and the Eagles — both of whom were hosting — dominated against their visitors during the playoffs on Sunday, decisively…
Community Science Initiatives You Can Do on a Trip to the Outdoors
Turning Outdoor Enthusiasts into Community Scientists The founder of Adventure Scientists explains how community science is the ultimate civic engagement By Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi & Kelso Harper Rachel Feltman: If you spend a lot of time on the Internet, you’ve probably seen the phrase “go touch grass” at least once. It might not always…
Are Saturn’s Rings Vanishing? That Depends on Your Point of View
The UniverseFridays Saturn’s Rings Are Disappearing—But They’ll Be Back This year, from Earth’s perspective, Saturn’s rings will appear nearly edge on, making them almost invisible By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings Saturn’s rings, imaged here by NASA’s Cassini orbiter, are one of the solar system’s most reliably spectacular sights. But sometimes they seem to…
Trump Cancels Science Reviews at NIH, World’s Largest Public Biomedical Research Funder
Trump Abruptly Cancels Crucial Science Reviews at NIH, World’s Largest Public Funder of Biomedical Research President Trump has placed an indefinite suspension on research grant reviews and travel at the National Institutes of Health and appears to have erased diversity programming pages at the agency’s website By Max Kozlov & Nature magazine A vaccine research…
How Reality TV Helps Explain Trump’s Success
Opinion How Reality TV Helps Explain Trump’s Success What makes reality shows so popular also helps explain why Donald Trump is so popular By Maxim Voronov, Madeline Toubiana & Trish Ruebottom edited by Megha Satyanarayana In May 2024 a red hat with the saying “Make America Great Again” was placed on the Hollywood Walk of…
Arrest warrant proposed for Taliban leaders for gender-based crimes
By Ruchi Kumar The Netherlands-based International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday announced that it is seeking arrests of two Taliban leaders for their role in gender-based crimes. The statement says persecutions have been committed since at least Aug. 15, 2021, the day the Taliban took over Afghanistan following the collapse of the Western-backed government. Since…
Glowing “Mystery Mollusk” Finally Identified
Glowing “Mystery Mollusk” Finally Identified This strange sea creature stumped scientists for 20 years. Here’s what it really is. By Jude Coleman edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier A mystery mollusk observed by MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle Tiburon in the outer Monterey Canyon at a depth of approximately 1,900 meters Join Our Community of Science Lovers!…
The Neuroscience of Severance: What’s Real? What’s Fake?
The Neuroscience of Severance: What’s Real? What’s Fake? The hit show Severance can be refashioned as a teaching moment about certain brain disorders. But its famed “Innie” versus “Outie” conceit is totally bogus. By Rachael Elward, Lauren Ford & The Conversation US Adam Scott in season two of Severance. The following essay is reprinted with…
U.S. Security Contractors Going to Gaza to Oversee Truce, Officials Say
Middle East Middle East Middle East The contractors have been enlisted to do weapons checks on vehicles carrying displaced Palestinians back to their homes in the north under the terms of the new cease-fire. By Patrick KingsleyRonen Bergman and Aaron Boxerman Patrick Kingsley and Aaron Boxerman reported from Jerusalem, and Ronen Bergman from Tel Aviv.…
Trump Declares Energy Emergency to Push Excess Fossil Fuel Production
Trump Declares Energy ‘Emergency’ to Justify More Oil and Gas Drilling Though largely symbolic, President Trump’s declaration of an “energy emergency” could throw a wrench in renewable energy development and will cut into the Endangered Species Act By Scott Waldman & E&E News U.S. President Donald Trump signs executive orders during the inaugural parade inside…
Film-maker Jacques Audiard apologises after Mexican outrage over Emilia Pérez
The director of the award-winning musical about a trans cartel boss has said the film isn’t intended to be realistic, but he is sorry if things in it ‘seem shocking’ A Spanish-language musical about a cartel boss who transitions to a woman, starring transgender actor Karla Sofía Gascón opposite Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez premiered in…
What Caused the L.A. Wildfires? How Investigators Will Find Out
How Will Fire Investigators Trace the Source of the L.A. Wildfires? Wildfires like the Los Angeles blazes destroy so much, but they often spare some evidence of the cause of their ignition By Stephanie Pappas edited by Jeanna Bryner A fire-fighting helicopter drops water near the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood and Encino, California, on January 11,…
Climate Action Now Threatened by ‘Powerful Forces,’ Biden Warns
‘Powerful Forces’ Threaten Climate Action, Biden Warns In his farewell address, President Biden warned that a powerful “oligarchy” could undo four years of progress on climate policy By Scott Waldman & E&E News President Joe Biden speaks from the Oval Office of the White House as he gives his farewell address Wednesday. Join Our Community…
Flags to be raised for Trump’s inauguration, despite half-staff order for Carter’s death
By Alana Wise Flags will be flown at full-staff on Jan. 20 for Donald Trump’s inauguration as president, despite an order from President Biden to lower the flags to half-staff in remembrance of the late President Jimmy Carter. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a Republican, announced the decision to raise the flags to full…
The secret to doing hard things and getting stuff done
By Marielle Segarra , Clare Marie Schneider Over the last year, NPR graphics reporter Daniel Wood — a busy dad of three — says he’s been able to maintain “a workout cadence I’ve never, ever had before.” The secret to his good exercise regime? He has an accountability group. “Through a combination of good encouragement…
USDA report finds Boar’s Head listeria outbreak was due to poor sanitation practices
Clare Marie Schneider A U.S. Department of Agriculture report has found that “inadequate sanitation practices” at a Boar’s Head facility in Virginia contributed to a listeria outbreak that left 10 people dead and dozens hospitalized around the country last year. The report, released Friday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service…
As fires in Los Angeles rage, an already-hurting Hollywood presses pause
Mandalit del Barco This is a developing story. For the latest local updates head to LAist.com and sign up for breaking news alerts. The wildfires that have devastated huge swaths of Southern California have also disrupted the industry that makes the region famous: Hollywood. Many well-known performers have reported that the wind-whipped flames destroyed their homes. And just…
In a bitter fight for the Minnesota Legislature, Democrats have threatened a walkout
By Dana Ferguson St. PAUL — The Minnesota Legislature is preparing for a turbulent opening on Tuesday with House Democrats threatening to walk out and the Senate set to come in with a temporary tie and no tiebreaker. A boycott would deprive the GOP of votes needed to take control of the House ahead of…
Reading Aloud
Reading alone is a deeply enjoyable activity. But being read to has its own irreplaceable allure. By Melissa Kirsch The Harvard Sentences are hundreds of sentences that have been used for many decades to test technologies in which understanding speech is essential, like telephone systems and hearing aids. I came across the list recently and…
White House working on hostage release deal in Gaza before Trump’s inauguration, says CIA director
William Burns said talks between Hamas and Israel are serious and could lead to deal in next couple of weeks The White House is working to reach a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas before president-elect Trump’s inauguration, William Burns, the director of the CIA, has suggested. “Negotiations going on right now are quite serious…
Sam Moore, who sang ‘Soul Man’ in Sam & Dave duo, dies at 89
By The Associated Press CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Sam Moore, the surviving half and higher voice of the 1960s duo Sam & Dave that was known for such definitive hits of the era as “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin,’” has died. He was 89. Publicist Jeremy Westby said Moore died Friday morning in…
‘National catastrophe’: drama school funding crisis in England sparks concern
Actors Samuel West and Paapa Essiedu join calls for urgent action to protect and expand access to arts World-leading drama schools in England are facing a financial crisis that threatens to turn back the clock, shutting down opportunities for talented young people from diverse and less privileged backgrounds, according to leading figures in the arts.…
Stormy, hot weather forecast for most of Australia with flash flooding risk in NSW and Queensland
BoM says expected storms in Brisbane and severe thunderstorms and heavy rain in Sydney due to lingering north-easterly winds A stormy and hot weekend is in store for most of Australia with tempestuous weather continuing in the north and along the east coast, while some parts of the country swelter through dry conditions and severe…
Biden extends protections for immigrants from Venezuela, El Salvador and Ukraine
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán President Joe Biden on Friday extended Temporary Protected Status for immigrants living in the U.S. from some countries, including Venezuela, El Salvador and Ukraine. Biden’s actions come 10 days before he leaves office, and could benefit about a million migrants who will be shielded from deportation for up to 18 months. Carlos Argueta,…
Biden Issues Sweeping Deportation Protections Before Trump Takes Office
The move allows hundreds of thousands of people from Sudan, Ukraine and Venezuela to stay in the country temporarily. By Hamed Aleaziz and Miriam Jordan Hamed Aleaziz reported from Washington and Miriam Jordan from Los Angeles. The Biden administration on Friday issued sweeping extensions of deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of people from Sudan,…
Will We Find Planet Nine with the Vera Rubin Observatory’s New Telescope?
Largest Camera in the World Will Look for Planet Nine Pluto was unseated as the ninth planet in our solar system. Will we find a real Planet Nine? By Rachel Feltman, Clara Moskowitz, Fonda Mwangi & Madison Goldberg [CLIP: Theme music] Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. Unless you’re really on…